John Thune

John Thune (7 January 1961-) was a US Senator from South Dakota (R) from 3 January 2005, succeeding Tom Daschle. He previously served as a member of the US House of Representatives (R-SD) from 3 January 1997 to 3 January 2003, succeeding Tim Johnson and preceding Bill Janklow.

Biography
John Thune was born in Pierre, South Dakota on 7 January 1961, and he graduated from Biola University and the University of South Dakota. He worked as a legislative aid for US Senator James Abdnor from 1985 to 1987, and he served as executive director of the South Dakota Republican Party from 1989 to 1991, as Railroad Director from 1991 to 1993, and as Executive Director of the South Dakota Municipal League from 1993 to 1996. In 1997, he was elected to represent South Dakota's at-large congressional district in the US House of Representatives, and he was elected to the US Senate in 2005. He supported a comprehensive energy bill, gun rights, and the American Health Care Act of 2017.